Method of testing radiator cores



Feb. 23, 1937. w. R. KUH NS METHOD OF TESTING RADIATOR CORES 3 wu W 3477/1221 Kuhn! Filed June 23, 1934 Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFHQE BIETHOD OF TESTING RADIATOR CORES Application June 23, 1934, Serial No. 732,016

7 Claims.

This invention relates to the testing of automobile radiators and analogous structures.

The testing of fully assembled automobile radiators is comparatively simple as it is only necessary to plug the usual water inlet and outlet and filler opening and provide means for introducing the testing fluid.

However, in case of replacement cores or where radiator cores per se are shipped to other manufacturers, no top and bottom tanks are furnished. Therefore it is either necessary tosecure tanks thereto merely for test purposes or to secure some means tightly over the ends to keepthe test fluid from escaping. Previously some manufacturers have soldered a metal blank across the core ends, the blank having an opening therein through which air might be introduced. This, however, necessitates the soldering of a tight joint between the blank and the core and the subsequent removal of both the blank and solder from the ends of the core. This process of testing takes considerable time and is therefore expensive.

An object of my invention is to provide a method of testing radiator cores quickly and easily.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method of securing end plates to the core with an airtight joint so that they may be easily removed.

With these and other objects in View my invention lies in the method and construction described in the specification, claimed in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the steps in my method.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an end plate.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the block which fits into the end plate, and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the end plate showing an air connection and part of the radiator core in place.

The end plates II] which are used in my process are formed of a rectangular plate H and three side walls [2, I3 and 14, one of the short walls being omitted. Along the longitudinal axis the plate II is hollowed out to form a hollow sector as shown at l5 and a hole I6 is supplied at the center. At the junction of the inside faces of the side walls and the plate H are cut square grooves I! which extend the full length and width of the plate. These grooves are sunken to such an extent that the width of the crack 13, between the inner face of the wall and the upper face of the plate, is approximately one-half the width of the square ll.

A plug it fits into the open end of the plate and has a rounded bottom 2Q which fits in the depression IS, a rectangular block 2! which acts as the end portion, and a lug 22 which projects at right angles to the center of the block 2| and is use-d to handle the plug and insert it in place.

In use these plates are first placed in a warming oven 23 and heated. One is then removed to table 24 where a certain amount of cement 25 is applied around the edges of the plate, and the radiator core is set in position. The plug I9 is then pressed in from the side to the correct position for the size of core being tested. Another end plate is applied in the same manner to the other end of the core. The core and the two end plates are then moved as a whole to the cooling table 26 which has a hollow top 21 with cooling fins projecting inwardly to dissipate heat to the water carried therein. The assembly is now ready for testing.

The particular cement or hinder used in this case is a combination or" rosin and beeswax, the amounts being five parts rosin to one part beeswax. The rosin gives the cement strength but is too brittle to be used alone and therefore the beeswax is added to give the whole ductility. This combination gives a cement which is sufficiently strong for testing purposes and which will allow easy removal of the end plates when desired. The use of a cement with rosin therein, as well as being easily removable, prepares the ends of the core with a suitable flux for soldering so that the cores are ready for the application of the tanks by soldering after the test. It should also be explained in this connection that the purpose of the groove I? is to provide a space into which excess cement may flow instead of squeezing into the end of the core and making it necessary to clean it out.

One of the pair of end plates applied to each core has an opening l6 therein into which opening is threaded a short section of pipe 28 to which the end of a flexible hose 29 is fitted to supply air to the assembly.

A conveyer indicated broadly at 30 has two track portions 3| which extend on opposite sides of the table 26. Running on these tracks on rollers 32 is an assembly composed of two vertical arms 33 extending up, one on each side thereof. Slidably secured thereto by a strap 3 is a member 35. The top surface of the latter has a groove 36 cut in the center which grooves turnably support the rod 31 at each end. Secured at spaced points on the rod 31 are two hangers 38 by pins 39 whose axes run at right angles to that of the rod and therefore the hangers are pivoted to rotate in the plane of the rod. The hangers have two legs 40 that extend downwardly and the extreme lower ends of all the hangers are bent at right angles, those of one hanger being bent toward those of the other, as shown at 4|. The two hangers are biased toward each other by spring 42.

To the arms 33 is bolted a large U-shaped rod 43 which is used to push the conveyer back and forth and also to brace the two opposite sides and will fit around the tub of water 44 that is placed between the two sides.

To each arm 33 is rotatably mounted a crank 45 to which is fixedly secured an eccentric disk 46. The lower edge of the member 35 is bent outwardly at right angles, as at 41, to ride on the face of the disk. Thus, by rotating the crank 45, the members 35 will be pushed up and down to raise and lower the hangers.

Therefore after the two end plates have been fastened to the core and it has cooled on table 26, the conveyer is pushed over until the hangers may be applied to the end plates. The cranks 45 are turned to raise the core from the table and then the conveyer is moved back until the core is over the tub. The core is then lowered into the water and air applied by tube 29 to locate any leaks. The core is then raised and taken from the conveyer. The plates are knocked off by simply tapping with a hammer, and the core approved.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a method of testing radiator cores without permanently attaching end means thereto, and by using a type of cement which prepares the ends of the core for later soldering.

I claim:

1. In a method for testing radiator cores, cementing end plates to the opposite ends of the core using a plastic cement containing a sufficiently strong binder to withstand the low test pressure but which may easily be removed and which binder also has the properties of a solder flux.

2. An improved method for testing radiator cores comprising cementing end plates with a plastic cement having the properties of a solder flux to the two open ends of said core, dipping the whole in water, applying air to the interior and removing the end plates by merely striking them with some hard object.

3. A method for testing radiator cores comprising heating a plurality of end plates, securing one plate to each of the open ends of the core by plastic cement having the properties of a solder flux which softens upon the application of heat, immersing the whole in fluid and applying air under pressure to the core to locate leaks therein by bubbles.

4. A method of testing radiator cores comprising heating a plurality of end plates, applying a coating of plastic cement having the properties of a solder flux and which softens upon the application of heat around the edges of the plates, inserting the core ends therein, cooling the whole to harden the cement, immersing the whole in water and applying air to the core to test it for leaks.

5. The method of testing a radiator core for leaks which includes fitting a temporary header to the end of the core, sealing the joint between the core and header with a plastic cement containing a binder that has the properties of a solder flux, immersing the whole in a liquid and applying air under pressure to the interior of the assembly.

6. In the manufacture of radiators, the method which includes the use of a plastic cement as a temporary seal between the end of the core and a testing header through which compressed air is introduced interiorly of the core when the same is immersed in water, and which seal provides a flux for subsequent soldering, and then soldering a permanent header to the end of a previously tested core in place of the testing header.

'7. The steps in the method of producing radiator cores, which include applying as a seal between the end of a core and a testing header a plastic cement which also serves as a solder flux for a subsequent soldering operation, applying air under pressure interiorly of the core immersed in water, then breaking the seal to remove the testing header and replacing the same by soldering to the core a permanent header.

WILLIAM R. KUHNS. 

